BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a fastener assembly used to secure a member, such
as a ceiling clip, to a substrate, such as a ceiling. The clip can be employed to
secure a wire that can be used to hang objects such as cables or suspended ceilings.
2. Description of Related Art
[0002] A fastener assembly for securing a wire to a substrate has generally comprised a
fastener, such as a pin, that is driven into a substrate and a member, such as a clip,
to be fastened to the substrate. Power actuated tools have been used to expedite the
driving of the pin, by firing it, for example, using gunpowder. It is better to mount
the pin in a hole in the member before driving so that the pin is guided through the
hole into the substrate without the need for the operator to adjust the parts manually
during firing. Mounting typically has been done by frictionally retaining the pin
directly in the hole of the member.
[0003] Problems have arisen due to the aforementioned method. When mounted directly in the
hole, the pin can skew and be introduced into the substrate at an angle, which should
be avoided. When the pin is introduced at an angle, the contact between the pin head
and the surface of the member around the hole is not well distributed and the member
may not be properly fastened to the substrate, the member can be damaged, and the
substrate can fissure.
[0004] Also when the member is flat in the region of the hole, the pin tip plays the role
of a bearing point, wherein a pressure is generated between the pin tip and the substrate
surface prior to firing, further influencing the pin to skew. A previous attempt to
solve this problem was proposed in U.S. Patent 4,703,883 and U.S. Patent 4,736,923.
In these patents, the clip has a large cavity formed for housing the pin tip, but
with increased cost, complexity, and possibilities of deformation, especially if the
pin is accidentally fired at an angle.
[0005] Additionally, it has been estimated that as many as about 20% or more of traditional
installations fail. The failure is typically due to a deformed pin. It is desirable
to salvage the member, which is generally the most expensive component, by simply
replacing the deformed pin rather than an entire assembly.
[0006] Another problem has been the difficulty of mounting a simple pin in the muzzle of
the tool. In prior art such as U.S. Patent 3,921,495, F16B19 two washers were used
to help mount the pin in the muzzle. A tubular body with multiple fingers is taught
in U.S. Patent 3,452,637, F16B19 but the pin still has to be mounted in a hole in
the member. The problems of skewing and pressure on the pin tip have not been solved.
[0007] What is needed is an improved fastener assembly that will solve the problems of the
prior art. The innovative fastener assembly should be easily loaded in the muzzle
of the tool, should protect the pin tip from pressure generated between the fastener
assembly and the substrate prior to driving, should keep the pin substantially perpendicular
to the substrate surface during driving, and should allow replacing the pin in case
it is deformed.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In accordance with the present invention, a fastener subassembly comprises a flute
having a body and a pin having a tip for being driven into a substrate. The body of
the flute has a longitudinal axis, a muzzle loading end, a mounting end, and a hollow
bore. The pin is mounted in the bore with its tip proximate the mounting end, such
that the tip is protected from pressure between the fastener subassembly and the substrate
prior to driving. The mounting end of the flute has wings that extend radially outwardly.
The wings allow the subassembly to be mounted in a hole in any suitable member that
needs to be attached to a substrate while holding the pin substantially perpendicular
to the substrate during driving.
[0009] In another aspect of the invention, a fastener assembly comprises, in addition to
the above described fastener subassembly, a member to be fastened to a substrate.
Using the wings of the flute, the fastener subassembly is mounted in a hole in the
member. The subassembly is removable and replaceable in case the pin is deformed,
so that the member is salvaged.
[0010] In still another aspect of the invention, the flute further comprises, at its muzzle
loading end, an annular portion and centering elements that extend radially outwardly
from the annular portion. The annular portion and the centering elements facilitate
loading and holding the assembly in the muzzle of the power actuated tool.
[0011] Additional aspects of the invention include tangs which assist in mounting the flute
in the hole and longitudinal weakness regions or apertures that allow the flute to
collapse and seat or break away when the pin is driven.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0012] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the inventive fastener assembly
including a pin, a flute, a clip, and part of a power actuated tool.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the flute shown in FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the flute of FIG. 2 taken along lines 3-3.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the flute.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side view of the flute.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a top view of the flute.
[0018] FIG. 7 is another embodiment of the fastener assembly having a generally flat clip
with a wire secured to it, and part of a power actuated tool.
[0019] FIG. 8 is still another embodiment of the fastener assembly having a generally flat
clip which includes two shallow indentations.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the fastener subassembly including a pin and
a flute.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, fastener assembly 10 comprises a pin 2, a flute 4 and a member
or clip 6 to be fastened. In a preferred embodiment, member is a clip, but it may
be a plate or such other apparatus as may be desired to be fastened to a substrate.
Member should be of suitable size, weight, and material, as exemplified by typical
ceiling clips and other similar accessories.
[0022] Fastener assembly 10 is inserted into muzzle 8 of a power actuated fastener driving
tool 9, clip 6 is positioned against a substrate 15, and pin 2 is fired into substrate
15, so that clip 6 is affixed to substrate 15. Tool 9 comprises a piston 11 that will
drive pin 2. Fastener assembly 10 may be designed for an acoustical ceiling application,
wherein clip 6 further has a bent portion or an attachment part 12 with an aperture
14 for attaching a hanger or a wire 16.
[0023] Advantageously, clip 6 has a fastening part 18 that is a generally flat portion and
comprises a fastener hole 30, such that it maintains pin 2 substantially normal to
substrate surface 98 when tool 9 is pressed against substrate 15, so that pin 2 is
not driven into substrate 15 at an angle.
[0024] Flute 4 includes the following features: an annular portion 20 cooperates with interior
surface 22 of muzzle 8, so that the fastener assemblies are individually friction
fit into muzzle 8 before firing; centering elements or protrusions 24 extend radially
from annular portion 20 to center the fastener in muzzle 8 of tool 9 and guide the
fastener through muzzle 8 of tool 9 during driving; wings 26 attach flute 4 to clip
6, in that way the same pin and flute subassembly 27 can be inserted to various clip
configurations as long as the clip has a suitable hole; tangs 28 on flute 4 center
flute 4 and pin 2 in hole 30 of clip 6; and longitudinal apertures 32 between side
walls 34 of flute 4, seen in FIG. 2, allow flute 4 to collapse during firing. Returning
to FIG. 1, flute 4 may break away from pin 2 or seat beneath pin head 40 after firing,
depending on the energy of tool 9.
[0025] Flute 4 serves many purposes in conjunction with pin 2. First, flute 4 acts as a
retention member to retain pin 2 in muzzle 8 of tool 9. Second, it acts as a guidance
member for holding pin 2 concentric within muzzle 8 of tool 9, which is critical in
forced-entry fastenings. Third, it has expandable wings 26 to allow for pin 2 to be
inserted into a variety of steel clips to form an assembly. These clips are used for
a multitude of applications by various contractors, including electricians and acoustical
contractors. Fourth, flute 4 can act as a washer of bearing member to substrate 15
for fastenings where pin tip 44 is not flush to substrate 15.
[0026] Referring still to FIG. 1, innovative fastener assembly 10 includes pin 2, flute
4, and clip 6. Inventive assembly 10 is to be individually loaded in muzzle 8 of power
actuated fastener driving tool 9. Flute 4 centers assembly 10 in muzzle 8 by cooperating
with interior surface 22 of muzzle 8. Inventive flute 4 also allows the mounting of
pin 2 in clip 6. In one embodiment, pin 2 is fired into substrate 15 using gunpowder.
Flute 4 is designed to collapse or break away during firing of tool 9 such that the
fastening is not disturbed by its presence. Pin 2 is mounted within flute 4 to form
a replaceable subassembly 27. An advantage of subassembly 27 is that it is easily
removable, such that pin 2 and flute 4 can be replaced in case pin 2 is damaged without
having to replace clip 6.
[0027] Pin 2 has a head 40, a shank 42, and a tip 44. Shank 42 is generally cylindrical
in shape and has a diameter that is significantly smaller than its length. Shank 42
has a trailing end 46 and a driving end 48. At trailing end 46, shank 42 is connected
with head 40. Head 40 is also generally cylindrical in shape but has a diameter that
is significantly larger than its length and than the diameter of shank 42. Head 40
and shank 42 are connected together such that the two cylinders have same axis 50.
The connection between them can be a pin neck 52 that tapers towards shank 42. At
driving end 48 of shank 42 is tip 44. Tip 44 is generally conical in shape. Fastener
assembly 10 mounts pin 2 in muzzle 8 of tool 9 so that pin 2 and muzzle 8 have same
axis 50. When tool 9 is fired, piston 11 is pushed towards pin 2. Piston 11 engages
pin head 40 and drives pin 2 into substrate 15.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, flute 4 has a body 60, a muzzle loading end 62, and a
mounting end 64. Flute body 60 has a longitudinal axis 66. Flute body 60 has a hollow
bore 68 extending the length of body 60 along longitudinal axis 66 between muzzle
loading end 62 and mounting end 64. Hollow bore 68 has a boundary 70 proximate mounting
end 64. Pin 2 is mounted in hollow bore 68 of body 60, with its tip 44 proximate boundary
70. In one embodiment shown in FIG. 1, pin tip 44 is substantially flush to boundary
70 or slightly recessed with respect to boundary 70 such that tip 44 is completely
inside bore 68. Tip 44 is thus protected from the pressure that can be generated during
contact with substrate 15 prior to firing. Mounted in longitudinal bore 68 of flute
4, pin 2 can be fired in substrate 15 without skewing. Preferably, hollow bore 68
has a flared portion 72 at muzzle loading end 62 such that it is easier to introduce
pin tip 44 into flute 4. Flute body 60 has a generally cylindrical trunk 74.
[0029] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 8, pin tip 44 goes slightly outside hollow bore
68, but such that pin tip 44 is still proximate boundary 70. As discussed below, tip
44 is still protected from pressure prior to driving.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 3, flute 4 has wings 26 at its mounting end 64. Wings 26 extend
outwardly radially from flute body 60. In a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 4,
each wing 26 is a flat angular section, i.e. is the intersection between an angle
and two concentric circles. Flat wing 26 is generally perpendicular to flute longitudinal
axis 66, as shown in FIG. 5, but can bend as described below. Wings 26 may be three
or four in number, preferably four. Wings 26 generally have the same size and are
generally equiangularly spaced around mounting end 64, as shown in FIG. 4. Wings 26
are separated by slots 76 that are generally trapezoidal in shape and can also be
angular sections. Distal-end 78 of a wing 26 is larger than distance D
1 separating the distal-ends of two consecutive wings 26, so that wings 26 are wider
than slots 76 at distal end. In the contrary, proximal-end 82 of a wing 26 is smaller
than distance D
2 separating the proximal-ends of two consecutive wings 26, so that wings 26 are narrower
than slots 76 at proximal-end.
[0031] Innovative flute 4 allows for multiple types of clips because with its wings 26,
flute 4 can be inserted into a variety of clips provided the clip has a suitable hole.
Therefore the present invention can be used in a multitude of applications by various
contractors, including electricians and acoustical contractors. In one embodiment
shown in FIG. 1, clip 6 has a fastening part 18 and an attachment part or a hook 12.
Fastening part 18 is the part that will be fastened to substrate 15 using pin 2. Attachment
part 12 is the part to which wire 16 is attached. Fastening part 18 has a substrate
side 86 and an outer side 88, with a hole 30 extending through it from outer side
88 to substrate side 86. Flute 4 is mounted on clip 6 through hole 30, such that wings
26 spread radially outwardly on substrate side 86. Wings 26 can bend to allow for
insertion through hole 30, but only under a predetermined force. They can bend such
that flute 4 can be removed by a predetermined force and another flute mounted in
clip 6 in case pin 2 is deformed, so that clip 6 can be salvaged. A predetermined
force is needed to bend wings 26 such that flute 4 remains mounted in clip 6 during
packing and shipping. In a preferred embodiment, clip 6 has a recess 90 in its substrate
side 86 around hole 30 so that wings 26 fit in recess 90 and spread radially outwardly
in recess 90. When pressed against substrate 15, substrate side 86 of clip 6 is substantially
flush against substrate 15 and receives the corresponding pressure, not wings 26.
Recess 90 also makes assembly 10 stronger by protecting wings 26. Recess 90 is formed
by a counter-bore in substrate side 86 of clip 6 around hole 30. In another embodiment,
recess can be formed by a shallow indentation 240 as in FIG. 8.
[0032] Flute 4 is preferably made of plastic and its body 60 comprises generally longitudinal
weakness regions or apertures 32, see FIG. 2. In a preferred embodiment, the generally
longitudinal weakness regions are longitudinal apertures. Alternatively, the generally
longitudinal weakness regions can be longitudinal grooves or creases. In still another
embodiment, generally longitudinal weakness regions can be longitudinal recesses in
the flute body. They also can be longitudinal lines of perforations. Apertures, grooves,
creases, recesses or perforations contribute to the collapsing or breaking of the
flute upon application of a predetermined energy.
[0033] Plastic composition of flute 4 together with longitudinal apertures 32 allow flute
4 to collapse easily under pin head 40 during driving of pin 2. Flute 4 may break
away from pin 2 or seat beneath pin head 40 depending on the energy of tool 9. Longitudinal
apertures 32 must be large enough to contribute to the collapsing, but not excessively
large, such that the structure of flute 4 is strong enough to maintain integrity during
manufacturing, packaging, shipping, and handling prior to firing. In one embodiment
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the width of an aperture 32 is about one fourth to about half,
and preferably about one third, of the diameter of trunk 74 of flute body 60. Its
length is about one third to about two thirds, and preferably about half, of the length
of flute 4 from muzzle loading end 62 to mounting end 64. Apertures 32 are separated
by side walls 34 of flute body 60. There is a plurality of apertures 32, preferably
about four, that are preferably generally equally spaced around the circumference
of flute body 60, such that flute 4 collapses evenly. If apertures 32 are not evenly
distributed around body 60, especially if the energy of tool 9 is such that flute
4 does not break, flute 4 might seat unevenly beneath pin head 40 causing pin 2 to
skew.
[0034] The plastic composition of flute 4 is selected to be strong enough such that flute
4 will not break when stored or shipped to the customer, yet ductile enough to collapse
under the pressure of pin head 40 when pin 2 is driven by piston 11 of tool 9, see
FIG. 1. During driving, pin head 40 engages flute 4 on its muzzle loading end 62.
If the energy of tool 9 is lower than a certain threshold or predetermined amount
of energy, side walls 34 will bow and flute 4 will seat beneath pin head 40. If the
energy of tool 9 is higher than the threshold, flute 4 will break away from pin 2.
The breaking will occur at any weak point in the flute structure.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 1, an annular portion 20 on muzzle loading end 62 cooperates with
interior surface 22 of muzzle 8 such that fastener assembly 10 form a friction fit
inside muzzle 8. Therefore flute 4 acts as a retention member to retain fastener assembly
10 in muzzle 8. In a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3, annular portion 20 ends
with a tapered neck 92 that tapers inwardly from annular portion 20 to trunk 74. Annular
portion 20 has a diameter that is substantially larger than the diameter of trunk
74 of flute 4. Returning to FIG. 1, if the energy of power actuated tool 9 is such
that flute 4 seats beneath pin head 40 after firing, annular portion 20 can play the
role of a washer between pin head 40 and outer side 88 of clip 6.
[0036] Preferably, annular portion 20 includes centering elements 24 that extend radially
outwardly from annular portion 20, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Centering elements 24
are located at a predetermined distance from muzzle loading end 62. Returning to FIG.
1, centering elements 24 contact interior surface 22 of muzzle 8 and center fastener
assembly 10 in muzzle 8 to guide it during driving. Thus flute 4 acts as a guidance
member for holding pin 2 concentric within muzzle 8 during firing, which is critical
in forced entry fastenings. There are preferably three or four such centering elements
24. In one embodiment, centering elements 24 are tongue-shaped protrusions having
semi-circular portions 94 and are evenly distributed around annular portion 20, as
seen in FIG. 6. When flute 4 is mounted into muzzle 8, centering elements 24 contact
the interior surface 22 of muzzle 8 as seen in FIG. 1 to guide fastener assembly 10
during firing. A smaller number of centering elements 24 or a concentrated distribution
in only one side of annular portion 20 will not effectively center fastener assembly
10 in muzzle 8. Both the width and the thickness of centering elements 24 are significantly
smaller than respectively the diameter and the thickness of annular portion 20, as
shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. The small thickness of centering elements 24 allows them to
be flexible. Apparent diameter D
3 of annular portion 20 including centering elements 24 is generally slightly larger
than the interior diameter of muzzle 8. Thus, when flute 4 is introduced in muzzle
8, centering elements 24 bend and are compressed against interior surface 22 of muzzle
8, as in FIG. 1, participating in the retention and guidance tasks of flute 4.
[0037] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, flute body 60 may further comprise tangs 28
proximate wings 26. As seen in FIG. 1, tangs 28 cooperate with and are compressed
by interior surface 96 exposed by hole 30 to keep flute longitudinal axis 66 (seen
in FIG. 3), and consequently pin 2, substantially centered in hole 30 and substantially
perpendicular to substrate surface 98. There should be at least three tangs 28, preferably
equiangularly spaced, such that the stress is evenly distributed. A preferred embodiment
has four tangs as shown in FIG. 4. Tang width may vary, but in a preferred embodiment
is between about one eighth and about one tenth, preferably about one ninth, of the
diameter of trunk 74 around which they are distributed.
[0038] Returning to FIG. 1, flute 4 houses pin tip 44 in its bore 68 protecting pin tip
44 from pressure before driving, and thus allows a clip 6 having a flat fastening
part 18. Such a clip 6 is easy to manufacture since forming fastening part 18 consists
only in drilling or punching a hole 30 and forming a recess 90 around it.
Flute 4 allows the use of a generally flat clip 106, such as seen in FIG. 7, which
is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and which reduces center distance CD between
pin 2 and the wire location and thus reduces the stress generated on clip 106.
[0039] Still referring to FIG. 7, the process of securing a wire 16 to a ceiling or substrate
15, starting from the manufacturing to the fmal step, is described below. Two holes,
a fastener hole 120 and a wire hole 130, are drilled or punched in a metallic plate.
Other types of plate can be used, such as a molded plastic plate with holes, but a
metallic plate is preferred. A recess is preferably formed on metallic plate around
each of the holes 120 and 130, such that both recesses 180 and 190 are on the same
side, substrate side 186. Recesses 180 and 190 may be machined on substrate side 186
of metallic plate, such as counter-bored. Metallic plate is now a generally flat clip
106 shown in FIG. 7. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 8 and discussed below, recesses
can be created by bending metal slightly.
[0040] Returning to FIG. 7, a flute 4 having the aforementioned properties is molded in
plastic, such as by injection molding. A pin 2 is inserted into hollow bore 68 of
flute 4 to form a fastener subassembly 27 of flute 4 and pin 2. Pin tip 44 is introduced
from flared portion 72 of hollow bore 68 until it is proximate mounting end 64 of
flute 4 but such that pin tip 44 is still in bore 68, so that tip 44 will not touch
substrate 15 prior to the firing. Flute 4 is mounted in fastener hole 120 by being
pushed through fastener hole 120 from outer side 188 with its wings 26 towards clip
106. Wings 26 bend backward allowing flute 4 to be inserted. Once completely on substrate
side 186, wings 26 open up again. Flute 4 is pulled backward slightly, allowing wings
26 to spread out and settle into flute recess 180 and tangs 28 to be in contact with
interior surface 196 of clip 106 exposed by fastener hole 120, so that tangs 28 center
pin 2 in fastener hole 120 and keep pin 2 substantially perpendicular to substrate
surface 98.
[0041] Still referring to FIG. 7, wire 16 is introduced in wire hole 130. A head 192 is
formed along wire 16 on substrate side 186 and wire 16 is cut so that head 192 settles
into corresponding wire head recess 190, such that wire 16 is secured to clip 106.
Assembly 110 is loaded in muzzle 8 of a gunpowder activated tool 9 such that generally
flat clip 106 is substantially perpendicular to muzzle 8.
[0042] Substrate side 186 is pressed against substrate 15 to which wire 16 must be secured,
such that muzzle 8 is substantially perpendicular to substrate surface 98. Pin 2 is
driven in substrate 15. Flute 4 collapses under the energy transmitted to pin 2 by
tool 9 and it breaks away or seats beneath pin head 40. The securing of wire 16 is
accomplished.
[0043] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a generally flat clip 206 is used. Clip 206
is formed by a substantially flat plate in which a fastener hole 220 and a wire hole
230 are drilled or punched. A shallow indentation is formed around each of the holes,
a flute indentation 240 and a wire indentation 250, such that a flute recess 280 and
a wire head recess 290 are formed respectively around fastener hole 220 and wire hole
230. Indentations 240 and 250 are formed by slightly bending the substantially flat
plate of clip 206 around holes 220 and 230. When flute 4 is mounted in fastener hole
220, wings 26 expand in flute recess 280. When wire 16 is headed and secured to clip
206, head 192 settles into corresponding wire head recess 290.
[0044] Referring still to FIG. 8, depth D
4 of flute recess 280 is preferably sufficient to accommodate thickness T
1 of wings 26, still more preferably slightly greater than thickness T
1 to allow a slight tolerance. Depth D
4 may be about one to about five times thickness T
1, in one embodiment about three times, see FIG. 8. Preferably depth D
4 is smaller than or substantially equal to length L
1 of pin tip 44. In one embodiment shown in FIG. 8, length L
1 is about three times depth D
4. Depth D
5 of wire head recess 290 is preferably such that head 192 fits in wire head recess
290. Pin 2 is mounted in flute 4 such that pin tip 44 is proximate flute mounting
end 64. Due to flute indentation 240, pin tip 44 can go slightly outside hollow bore
68, but such that pin tip 44 is still flush to or slightly recessed with respect to
substrate surface 98 when clip 206 is pressed against substrate 15, so that pin tip
44 is protected from pressure before driving. It may be advantageous to position pin
tip 44 flush against substrate 15, but without applying substantial pressure therebetween,
in that, upon firing, travel or free flight of pin 2 is eliminated, thereby reducing
risk of unintended trajectory.
[0045] Returning to FIG. 1, in the described invention, one piece, namely flute 4, is accomplishing
a multitude of tasks. Flute 4 protects pin tip 44, such that pressure generated between
substrate 15 and fastener assembly 10 prior to driving is applied on substrate side
86 of clip 6 rather than on pin tip 44.
[0046] Flute 4 keeps pin 2 substantially perpendicular to substrate surface 98 and to substrate
side 86 of clip 6 such that it is not driven at an angle. This is due to the cooperation
between wings 26, tangs 28, and hollow bore 68 of flute 4, as described below. Wings
26 allow for flute 4 to be inserted into a variety of clips or other accessories having
a hole. Tangs 28 keep flute longitudinal axis 66 (seen in FIG. 3) substantially perpendicular
to substrate side 86 of clip 6 and therefore to substrate surface 98 once clip 6 is
pressed against substrate 15 just before driving pin 2. Hollow bore 68 of flute 4
keeps pin 2, which is inserted in bore 68, substantially parallel to flute longitudinal
axis 66 and thus substantially perpendicular to substrate 15 at the moment of driving.
[0047] Continuing with FIG. 1, with its annular portion 20 and centering elements 24, flute
4 acts as a retention component to retain pin 2 in muzzle 8 of tool 9. It also acts
as a guide for holding pin 2 concentric within muzzle 8 of tool 9 so that pin 2 is
coaxial with muzzle 8, which is critical in power driven fastenings.
[0048] With its flexible wings 26, flute 4 is removable and replaceable. In case of a failed
installation of pin 2, subassembly 27 of flute 4 and pin 2 can be removed and replaced
such that clip 6, which is usually the most expensive component, can be salvaged.
[0049] Due to its plastic composition and to longitudinal apertures 32, flute 4 can be made
to collapse under pin head 40, depending on the energy of tool 9. If flute 4 seats
beneath pin head 40, flute 4 acts as a washer distributing pressure between pin head
40 and outer side 88 of clip 6. Also if energy of tool 9 is not enough to drive pin
2 until pin head 40 is flush to outer side 88 of clip 6, flute 4 acting as a washer
eliminates a gap which might otherwise occur between pin head 40 and clip 6. Such
a gap would have weakened the fastening of clip 6 to substrate 15.
1. A fastener subassembly (27) for being driven by a power actuated tool (9), comprising:
a flute (4) having a body (60) with a longitudinal axis (66);
a pin (2) having a tip (44) for being driven into a substrate (15);
said body (60) of said flute having a muzzle loading end (62), a mounting end (64),
and a hollow
bore (68) extending along said longitudinal axis;
said pin (2) being mounted in said bore with said pin tip proximate said mounting
end; said mounting end (64) of said flute having wings (26) extending radially outwardly.
2. A fastener subassembly according to claim 1, wherein said body of said flute further
comprises tangs (28) proximate said wings.
3. A fastener subassembly according to claim 1, wherein said muzzle loading end (62)
of said body of said flute comprises an annular portion (20) and centering elements
(24) that extend radially outwardly from said annular portion.
4. A fastener subassembly according to claim 1, wherein there are four wings (26).
5. A fastener subassembly according to claim 1, wherein said body of said flute further
comprises generally longitudinal weakness regions (32).
6. A fastener subassembly according to claim 1, wherein said body of said flute further
comprises longitudinal apertures (32).
7. A fastener subassembly according to claim 6, wherein there are four longitudinal apertures
(32).
8. A fastener subassembly according to claim 6, wherein said body of said flute has a
trunk (74);
said trunk has a diameter;
said longitudinal apertures (32) have a width that is about one third of said diameter
of said trunk;
said flute has a length from said muzzle loading end (62) to said mounting end (64);
said longitudinal apertures (32) have a length that is about half of said length of
said flute.
9. A fastener assembly for being driven by a power actuated tool, comprising :
a fastener subassembly (27) according to one of claims 1 to 8,
a member (6) to be fastened to said substrate (15);
said member (6) having a substrate side (86) and an outer side (88), with a hole (30)
extending through
said member from said outer side to said substrate side;
said flute (4) being mounted in said hole (30) of said member (6) so that said wings
(26) spread radially outwardly on said substrate side (86) of said member.
10. A fastener assembly according to claim 9, wherein said flute (4) is removable from
said member (6).
11. A fastener assembly according to one of claims 9 and 10, wherein said member (6) has
a recess (90) in said substrate side (86) around said hole (30).
12. A fastener assembly according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein said member is a clip
(6);
said clip having a fastening part (18);
wherein said fastening part is generally flat;
and wherein said hole (30) is in said fastening part (18).
13. A fastener assembly according to one of claims 9 to 12, wherein said member is a generally
flat clip (106).